Information-processing apparatus, control method of information-processing apparatus, program, recording medium, portable terminal, and information-processing system

ABSTRACT

An MFP specifies an MFP application to be started in a portable terminal and another application to be started after start of the MFP application. An NFC tag records information that allows the specified MFP application and the specified another application to be identified in the portable terminal. The portable terminal acquires the application information recorded in the NFC tag by the proximity wireless communication. The portable terminal controls a communication-connection changeover according to an application to be started based on the acquired information. At this moment, if a type of communication to be used by the MFP application and a type of communication to be used by the another application are different, the portable terminal starts the another application after making a changeover to communication connection corresponding to this another application.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/666,913 filed Mar. 24, 2015, which claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2014-061959 filed Mar. 25, 2014, both of whichare hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a method for starting an applicationin a portable terminal, performed in an information-processing apparatusand the portable terminal, by using proximity wireless communication.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, portable terminals including so-called smartphones havebecome widespread. The smartphones are multifunctional portabletelephones having high affinities for the Internet and produced based ontechniques of personal computers. In addition, a large number ofsoftware development kits (SDKs) have been made available. The SDKs areprovided to develop applications (hereinafter may also be simplyreferred to as “app”) that can be used in portable terminals. Thesesituations are forming an environment where developers can freelydevelop applications for portable terminals and distribute the developedapplications.

For example, applications for operating a printer, a fax, or amultifunction peripheral (MFP) with these functions (i.e., MFPapplications) from a portable terminal have also been developed usingSDKs and made available. A user can use various functions of an MFP, bystarting a MFP application in a portable terminal. In general, anapplication to be used in a portable terminal (an application for amobile) is often created as an application for a single function.Therefore, a user operating a MFP from a portable terminal needs tooperate the basic functions of the MFP via an MFP application, and tostart other applications when intending to use extension functions, inmany cases.

Meanwhile, near field communication (NFC) that is an example ofproximity wireless communication (noncontact communication) have becomewidespread in various fields. Functions of NFC are implemented by, forexample, a device mounted with an NFC unit configured to includecomponents such as an NFC tag and an NFC reader/writer. Between thedevices each mounted with the NFC unit, a communication session isestablished by merely bringing these devices close to each other to bewithin a few centimeters. The communication session ends when thesedevices are moved away from each other. In this way, a communicationsession is established/terminated by merely bringing the devices closeto/moving the devices away from each other. Therefore, NFC has beenattracting attention as a convenient way that allows users to easily usevarious services, and NFC is being put to practical use, in variousfields.

For example, assume that an image forming apparatus has an NFC tagrecording status information of a device, and a portable terminal has areader (a NFC reader) for reading the information recorded in the NFCtag. In such a system configuration, when a user desires to confirm thestatus of a device, the user can easily acquire detailed information ofthe device by merely holding a portable terminal over the device, i.e.,by merely bringing the portable terminal close to the device.

The NFC tag may be configured as a component in which various kinds ofinformation can be written. Examples of such information include auniform resource identifier (URI) scheme (e.g., http), a service setidentifier (SSID), and an encryption key.

For example, upon reading the NFC tag recording such information, aportable terminal automatically starts a predetermined application, orexecutes Wi-Fi handover processing. The Wi-Fi handover processingautomatically causes a connection changeover from one communicationstandard to another of a different type, e.g., from 3G communication towireless local area network (LAN) communication.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-78035discusses a portable terminal. This portable terminal acquires functionselection information from a MFP, after starting an NFC communicationsession upon being brought close to the MFP. The portable terminal thenterminates temporarily the NFC communication session upon being movedaway from the MFP, so that a user performs operation such as manuallydesignating a setting item. When being brought close to the MFP again,the portable terminal starts an NFC communication session, therebyinstructing the MFP to execute a job according to the setting item.

However, information about applications that can be written in an NFCtag is limited to one. Therefore, the user needs to change a screen foran application according to a job desired to be executed in the MFP, orneeds to start another application according to a job. The user may alsoneed to start another application that requires connection to wirelessLAN communication of Fi-Wi (registered trademark) or the like, dependingon the job desired to be executed in the MFP.

In this case, it is necessary to include, for example, a program forWi-Fi handover processing, to make a communication-connection changeoverfor each application provided in the portable terminal. As a result, anapplication size becomes relatively large thereby requiring a large partof the capacity of a storage device of the portable terminal, which is aproblem remaining unsolved. In the first place, the Wi-Fi handoverprocessing cannot be performed on the application side, for a browser orthe like built in a portable terminal. Therefore, the user needs to makea changeover manually, for example, from portable-telephonecommunication to wireless LAN communication, whenever necessary.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to an information-processing systemcapable of reducing complicated work such as an application changeoveraccording to processing contents and a communication-connectionchangeover due to the application changeover.

According to an aspect of the present invention, aninformation-processing system includes an information-processingapparatus and a portable terminal configured to be capable ofcommunicating with each other by proximity wireless communication,wherein the information-processing apparatus includes a specifying unitconfigured to specify a first application to be started in the portableterminal and a second application to be started after start of the firstapplication, and a recording unit configured to record applicationinformation in a storage unit, the application information allowing thespecified first application and the specified second application to beidentified in the portable terminal, wherein the portable terminalincludes an acquisition unit configured to acquire the applicationinformation recorded in the storage unit, by the proximity wirelesscommunication, and a control unit configured to control acommunication-connection changeover according to an application to bestarted based on the acquired information, and wherein, when a type ofcommunication to be used by the first application and a type ofcommunication to be used by the second application are different, thecontrol unit starts the second application after making a changeover tocommunication connection corresponding to the second application.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of aninformation-processing system according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a portable terminal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of a multifunction peripheral (MFP).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a memory map of a storagearea of a near field communication (NFC) tag.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an outline of a software configurationof the entire information-processing system.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configurationof the MFP.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configurationof the portable terminal.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the MFP.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of theportable terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data table held by anMFP application.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an MFPaccording to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a portableterminal.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data table held by anMFP application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the drawings. These exemplary embodiments willbe each described using a case where the present invention is used foran information-processing system including a portable terminal and amultifunction peripheral (MFP). Examples of the portable terminalinclude a smartphone and a tablet personal computer (PC). The MFP is anexample of an information-processing apparatus and has functions such asa printer and a fax. In addition, the description will be given using,as an example, a case where Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communicationis employed for communication connection to be used by anotherapplication to be started in the portable terminal. Moreover, theportable terminal and the information-processing apparatus areconfigured to be capable of communicating with each other by near fieldcommunication (NFC) that is an example of proximity wirelesscommunication (noncontact communication).

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of aninformation-processing system S according to a first exemplaryembodiment.

The information-processing system S illustrated in FIG. 1 includes anetwork line 10, a portable terminal 1000, an access point 2000, an MFP3000, and an NFC tag 5000.

The portable terminal 1000 is, for example, an information device suchas a smartphone and a tablet personal computer (PC). The portableterminal 1000 is connected to the network line 10 via the access point2000 having a function of relaying wireless local area network (LAN)communication.

The MFP 3000 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral havingfunctions such as a printer and a fax, and is connected to the networkline 10. Further, the MFP 3000 is configured to operate according to acommand output by a user starting an application installed on theportable terminal 1000, and operating this application. The MFP 3000 canalso be configured to make connection to the network line 10 via theaccess point 2000, as with the portable terminal 1000.

The NFC tag 5000 can record various kinds of information. Examples ofthese various kinds of information include information for identifyingan application to be started automatically in the portable terminal 1000with which a communication session has been established, and informationabout a communication-connection changeover, e.g., Wi-Fi (registeredtrademark) handover processing. The information recorded in the NFC tag5000 is to be read using, for example, an NFC reader/writer of theportable terminal 1000. In this way, the NFC tag 5000 forms a storageunit that records various kinds of information.

A hardware configuration of each of the portable terminal 1000 and theMFP 3000 will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconfiguration of the portable terminal 1000.

The portable terminal 1000 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a controller1010, a communication unit 1020, an audio output unit 1030, an audioinput unit 1040, a camera 1050, a connector 1060, a storage 1070, and atouch-screen display 1080. The portable terminal 1000 further includes abutton 1090, an acceleration sensor 1100, a direction sensor 1110, agyroscope 1120, and an NFC reader/writer 1130.

The controller 1010 is, for example, one type of computer including acentral processing unit (CPU), and comprehensively controls operation ofthe portable terminal 1000. In this way, the controller 1010 functionsas a control unit provided to implement various functions of theportable terminal 1000. The controller 1010 may be configured as, forexample, an integrated circuit such as a system-on-a-chip (SoC)integrated to include other components such as the communication unit1020.

The communication unit 1020 is a module provided to communicate withother devices via the access point 2000. The communication unit 1020performs, for example, communication according to the type of wirelesscommunication of 2G, 3G, 4G, and the like that are wirelesscommunication standards for portable telephones. The communication unit1020 may also be configured to perform communication according to thetype of wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11), Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX, registered trademark), and NFC. Thecommunication unit 1020 may also be configured to provide support, whilemaking a changeover of one of or two or more of the above-describedcommunication standards of different types.

The audio output unit 1030 is, for example, a speaker, and outputs, asaudio, a voice signal received from the controller 1010.

The audio input unit 1040 is, for example, a microphone. The audio inputunit 1040 converts received audio into a voice signal, and transmits thevoice signal resulting from the conversion to the controller 1010.

The camera 1050 is an out-camera for photographing an object, andincludes, for example, a charge coupled device (CCD).

The connector 1060 is a terminal that mediates connection with otherdevices. The connector 1060 may be, for example, a general-purposeterminal such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector and an earphonemicrophone connector, according to a device to be connected to theportable terminal 1000. The connector 1060 may also be a terminalsubjected to dedicated design such as a dock connector. The devices tobe connected to the portable terminal 1000 via the connector 1060include, for example, an external storage, a speaker, and acommunication apparatus.

The storage 1070 is a device that stores various programs to be executedby the controller 1010 and various data including setting data. Thestorage 1070 is also used as a work area for temporarily storing aresult of processing performed by the controller 1010.

The storage 1070 can be configured using any storage device such as asemiconductor storage device or a magnetic storage device, or can beconfigured to include one or more kinds of storage device. The storage1070 can also be configured by combining a portable storage medium suchas a memory card, with a reader for this storage medium.

The programs stored in the storage 1070 include an application to beexecuted in the foreground or background, and a control program forsupporting operation of the application.

The application is a program defined so that predetermined processing isexecuted via the controller 1010. For example, execution of theapplication allows a predetermined screen to appear on, for example, adisplay screen of the touch-screen display 1080. Further, the executionof the application allows control for detection of operation (gestureoperation) performed by a user on this screen, and for execution ofprocessing according to a result of the detection.

The control program is, for example, an operating system (OS) providedto primitively control each function unit of the portable terminal 1000,and to start the application of the portable terminal 1000. For example,the controller 1010 controls units such as the communication unit 1020,the audio output unit 1030, and the audio input unit 1040, based on thecontrol program, to implement a phone call.

The application and the control program can be stored in the storage1070 beforehand, or can each be installed onto the storage 1070 via thecommunication unit 1020.

The touch-screen display 1080 functions as a display unit that displaysgraphics such as text, image, and diagram on the display screen. Thetouch-screen display 1080 also functions as an operation receiving unitthat detects operation performed by a user on the display screen.Examples of the operation include tapping and flicking via a finger or astylus pen.

The button 1090 represents one or more buttons to be operated by a user.The controller 1010 detects operation (such as a click, a double click,and a push) performed by the user on the button 1090. Examples of thebutton 1090 include a home button for causing transition of contentsdisplayed on the display screen to a home position screen, a poweron-off button for powering on/off the portable terminal 1000, and avolume button for adjusting the sound level.

The acceleration sensor 1100 detects the direction and the size of anacceleration of the portable terminal 1000. The direction sensor 1110,which may also be called a magnetic bearing sensor, detects anorientation of the portable terminal 1000 by measuring terrestrialmagnetism. The gyroscope 1120 detects a posture of the portable terminal1000.

The acceleration sensor 1100, the direction sensor 1110, and thegyroscope 1120 provide respective detection results, so that a change inlocation and posture of the portable terminal 1000 can be detected bycombining these detection results.

The NFC reader/writer 1130 is a device provided to read informationrecorded in an NFC tag and to write information into an NFC tag. Forexample, when the portable terminal 1000 is brought close to an NFC tagtargeted for reading or writing to be within a predetermined distance, acommunication session is established, so that the NFC reader/writer 1130reads or writes information from or into this NFC tag.

The hardware configuration of the portable terminal 1000 illustrated inFIG. 2 is an example, and can be modified as appropriate within a scopenot compromising the gist of the present invention. Further, thecontroller 1010 performs necessary control on the portable terminal1000, according to detection results from the components such as thetouch-screen display 1080, the button 1090, and the acceleration sensor1100.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconfiguration of the MFP 3000.

The MFP 3000 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a system bus 3010, a CPU3020, a read only memory (ROM) 3030, a random access memory (RAM) 3040,a network interface card (NIC) 3050, and an external input controller(PANELC) 3060. The MFP 3000 further includes a touch panel (PANEL) 3070,a display controller (DISPC) 3080, and a display module (DISPLAY) 3090.The MFP 3000 further includes a disk controller (DKC) 3100, alarge-scale storage device (a hard disk device (HDD)) 3110, a printer(PRINTER) 3200, and a scanner (SCANNER) 3300.

The NFC tag 5000 is connected to the MFP 3000 via the system bus 3010.Further, the MFP 3000 is connected to the network line 10 via the NIC3050.

The CPU 3020 comprehensively controls the devices connected to thesystem bus 3010, by executing various programs stored in the ROM 3030 orthe HDD 3110. The RAM 3040 functions as a main memory and a work areafor the CPU 3020. In this way, the CPU 3020 functions as one type ofcomputer for implementing various functions of the MFP 3000.

The NIC 3050 mediates bidirectional communication with other devicesconnected to the network line 10, a file server, or the like. The NIC3050 can also be configured as a wireless communication module to beconnected to the network line 10 via an access point.

The PANELC 3060 is an external input controller, and controls variousbuttons of the MFP 3000 or operation input received by the PANEL 3070from a user.

The DISPC 3080 is a display controller, and controls, for example,display of a screen of the display module (DISPLAY) 3090 such as aliquid crystal display. The DKC 3100 is a disk controller, and controlswriting and reading of data into and from the large-scale storage device(HDD) 3110 such as a hard disk device.

The PRINTER 3200 is, for example, is a printing unit implemented usingelectrophotography, and performs printing on a recording material (e.g.,a sheet).

The SCANNER 3300 is an image reader provided to read an image of adocument. The SCANNER 3300 may be configured to be mounted with anautomatic document feeder (ADF) (not illustrated), so that documents ofa batch are automatically conveyed one by one.

The HDD 3110 can also be configured to have a predetermined storage areafor temporarily storing a read image.

The NFC tag 5000 can record various kinds of information. Examples ofthese various kinds of information include information for identifyingan application to be started automatically in the portable terminal 1000with which a communication session has been established, and informationabout a communication-connection changeover, e.g., Wi-Fi handoverprocessing.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a memory map of a storagearea of the NFC tag 5000.

The NFC tag 5000 records various kinds of information in a format calledNFC Data Exchange Format (NDEF). As illustrated in FIG. 4, for example,there is an NDEF-format record (NFC Record1, NFC Record2, NFC Record3,and so on), and various kinds of information are in sequence recordedfrom the starting address of the record.

For example, assume that the portable terminal 1000 is brought close tothe NFC tag 5000 to be within a distance that allows establishment of acommunication session. At this moment, if an application is not startedin the portable terminal 1000, the controller 1010 acquires an NDEFrecord recorded at the starting address of the NFC tag 5000. If anapplication to be started in the portable terminal 1000 is designated ata uniform resource identifier (URI) scheme of the read NDEF record, thecontroller 1010 starts the designated application. For example, theapplication designated by the URI scheme is a MFP application (a firstapplication) for operating the MFP 3000 from the portable terminal 1000via NFC communication.

Here, the URI scheme indicates a character string representing thelocation and attribute of an information resource. For example, the URIscheme is described in a form of “xxx://aaa/bbb”. In this description“xxx://aaa/bbb”, “xxx” indicates the category of an application, “aaa”indicates the name of the application, and “bbb” indicates variousparameters of the application.

When an application is already started in the portable terminal 1000,the controller 1010 acquires an NDEF record recorded in a specific areaof the NFC tag 5000 according to the started application. The startedapplication executes processing according to contents of the acquiredNDEF record.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams illustrating an example of a softwareconfiguration of the information-processing system S.

Specifically, FIG. 5A illustrates an outline of a software configurationof the entire information-processing system S. FIG. 5B illustrates anexample of a software configuration of the MFP 3000. FIG. 5C illustratesan example of a software configuration of the portable terminal 1000.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, information including an URI scheme forspecifying the start of the MFP application is stored in an NDEF record(a URI scheme REC) at the starting address of the NFC tag 5000. Android(registered trademark) package information is stored in the next NDEFrecord (an Android Pkg REC). Information (e.g., an Internet Protocol(IP) address, and access-point information) for the Wi-Fi handoverprocessing is stored in the next NDEF record (a Wi-Fi Handover REC).

When a communication session between the MFP 3000 and the portableterminal 1000 is being established, the controller 1010, which executesan OS 1700 and a MFP application 1600, acquires each piece ofinformation recorded in the NFC tag 5000. Specifically, the controller1010 acquires the information stored in each of the NDEF records.

The controller 1010 acquires the information from the URI scheme REC byexecuting the OS 1700, and starts the MFP application 1600 designated tobe started. The controller 1010 executing the MFP application 1600acquires each of a parameter of the URI scheme REC and the informationstored in the Wi-Fi Handover REC. The controller 1010 starts anotherapplication 1500 (a second application), based on these pieces ofacquired information. FIG. 5A illustrates relationships betweentransmission and reception of such information by using arrows, by wayof example.

Each function unit illustrated in FIG. 5B is implemented when the CPU3020 executes software stored in the ROM 3030.

A parameter setting unit 3500 specifies information to be written in theNFC tag 5000.

Specifically, the parameter setting unit 3500 specifies informationabout a user interface (UI) screen to be displayed on the display screenof the portable terminal 1000 and the Wi-Fi handover processing. Theparameter setting unit 3500 sets the specified information as aparameter of the URI scheme REC.

Here, for example, if a function to be executed by the MFP 3000 is FAXreception, the UI screen to be displayed on the display screen of theportable terminal 1000 is a FAX reception screen for operation of theFAX reception. Further, in order to display this UI screen on thedisplay screen of the portable terminal 1000, it may become necessary tostart another application (e.g., a FAX viewer application) differentfrom the MFP application. In other words, when the UI screen isidentified, another application to be started in the portable terminal1000 is also identified. The details will be described using FIG. 8.

The information about the Wi-Fi handover processing is determined basedon information such as an IP address set in the MFP 3000, a service setidentifier (SSID) of an access point to which the MFP 3000 is to beconnected, a SSID of an access point designated beforehand by a user, orthe like.

The user can also designate the UI screen to be displayed on the displayscreen of the portable terminal 1000. Moreover, for example, a UI screenautomatically distinguished based on the model name or the like of theMFP 3000 can also be displayed.

An NFC-tag writing unit 3510 writes the parameter set by the parametersetting unit 3500, in the NFC tag 5000. The NFC-tag writing unit 3510writes information about the UI screen (screen information), as aparameter of the URI scheme REC illustrated in FIG. 5A. For example,assume that the application to be started is the MFP application and theUI screen to be displayed on the display screen of the portable terminal1000 is “aaa”. In this case, “xxx://MFPapplication/aaa” having “aaa” asa parameter is written in the URI scheme REC as the information.Further, the NFC-tag writing unit 3510 writes handover information suchas the information about the Wi-Fi handover processing, in the Wi-FiHandover REC illustrated in FIG. 5A. In other words, the applicationinformation is recorded in the URI scheme REC, and the handoverinformation is recorded in the Wi-Fi Handover REC.

Each function unit illustrated in FIG. 5C is implemented when thecontroller 1010 executes the MFP application 1600 that is softwarestored in the storage 1070.

The first record of the NFC tag 5000 is read upon establishment of acommunication session with the NFC tag 5000. For example, when the URIscheme REC illustrated in FIG. 5A includes information indicating startof the MFP application 1600 illustrated in FIG. 5A, this MFP application1600 is started.

An NFC-tag reading unit 1610 reads various kinds of information recordedin the storage area of the NFC tag 5000. Specifically, the NFC-tagreading unit 1610 reads the parameter of the URI scheme REC, and eachpiece of information in the Wi-Fi Handover REC.

An application-to-be-started determination unit 1620 determines whetherit is necessary to perform a communication-connection changeover (achangeover to Wi-Fi communication), in another application to be startedaccording to the acquired parameter. When the application-to-be-starteddetermination unit 1620 determines that the changeover to the Wi-Ficommunication is necessary, a Wi-Fi handover instruction unit 1640instructs the controller 1010 to execute the Wi-Fi handover processing.

A UI-transition processing/another-application starting unit 1630instructs the controller 1010 to execute transition to the UI screendesignated by the parameter or start of the another applicationdesignated by the parameter. This another application is, for example,the another application 1500 illustrated in FIG. 5A.

A specific processing procedure will be described in detail below usingFIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the MFP3000. The CPU 3020 reads a predetermined program stored in the ROM 3030and executes the read program, to implement each process illustrated inFIG. 6.

In step S601, the CPU 3020 acquires the information about the Wi-Fihandover processing such as the IP address of the MFP 3000 and the SSIDof an access point, upon activation of the MFP 3000. Further, the CPU3020 acquires the screen information about a UI screen to be displayedon the display screen of the portable terminal 1000. The CPU 3020temporarily records these pieces of acquired information in the RAM3040, for example.

In step S602, the CPU 3020 writes the acquired Wi-Fi handoverinformation in the Wi-Fi Handover REC. Further, the CPU 3020 writes theacquired screen information as a parameter of the URI scheme REC. Inother words, these pieces of information are recorded in the NFC tag5000. Afterwards, the CPU 3020 completes this series of processes.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of theportable terminal 1000. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of adata table held by the MFP application 1600.

This data table associates the UI screen (Display UI) to be displayed onthe display screen of the portable terminal 1000, the application(Application to be started) to be started as another application, andwhether the Wi-Fi handover processing is necessary, with one another.Further, each process illustrated in FIG. 7 is implemented when thecontroller 1010 executes the MFP application 1600.

Upon establishment of a communication session with the NFC tag 5000, thecontroller 1010 reads the URI scheme REC recorded in the NFC tag 5000.The controller 1010 then starts the MFP application 1600, if the URIscheme REC includes the information indicating the start of the MFPapplication 1600.

In step S701, the controller 1010 acquires the parameter stored in theURI scheme REC of the NFC tag 5000.

In step S702, the controller 1010 determines a display UI, anapplication to be started, and whether the Wi-Fi handover processing isnecessary, by referring to the data table (FIG. 8), based on theparameter acquired in the process in step S701.

For example, when the display UI identified based on the parameter andthe data table is “Remote UI (RUI)” (see FIG. 8; this is a webpagepossessed by the MFP 3000), the controller 1010 determines that theapplication to be started (another application) is “Browser” and theWi-Fi handover processing is necessary. Alternatively, when the displayUI identified by the parameter is “FAX transmission” (FIG. 8), theapplication to be started is the MFP application 1600. In this case,since the MFP application 1600 is already executed, the controller 1010instructs the MFP 3000 to execute fax transmission, by the NFCcommunication of the MFP application 1600. Therefore, the Wi-Fi handoverprocessing is unnecessary.

If the controller 1010 determines that the Wi-Fi handover processing isnecessary (Yes in step S702), then in step S703, the controller 1010executes the Wi-Fi handover processing. In this case, the controller1010 performs a communication-connection changeover from the NFCcommunication to the Wi-Fi communication. Otherwise (No in step S702),the processing proceeds to step S704.

In step S704, the controller 1010 determines whether the application tobe started is the MFP application 1600. In step S706, when theapplication to be started is the MFP application 1600 (Yes in stepS704), a screen displayed on the touch-screen display 1080 transitionsto the screen according to the parameter. If not (No in step S704), thenin step S705, the controller 1010 starts another application designatedby the parameter, which completes this series of processes.

In this way, in the information-processing system S of the presentexemplary embodiment, it is determined whether acommunication-connection changeover is necessary for another applicationto be started after start of the MFP application 1600 in the portableterminal 1000, to display the UI screen according to the parameter. Ifthe communication-connection changeover is necessary, the portableterminal 1000 starts another application after performing thecommunication-connection changeover to the corresponding type ofcommunication.

Therefore, there is no need for a user to manually perform acommunication-connection changeover to Wi-Fi communication or the like,after starting, for example, a third-party-produced application that isanother application. In other words, it is possible to reducecomplicated user work such as an application changeover according toprocessing contents and a communication-connection changeover due to theapplication changeover. As a result, the user can quickly performdesired operation, which can improve usability.

Moreover, it is not necessary to add a program for acommunication-connection changeover processing to each of otherapplications. As a result, an increase in application size issuppressed, which can in turn suppress requiring a large part of thecapacity of a storage device in a portable terminal.

A second exemplary embodiment will be described using a case adoptingsuch a configuration that a status of the MFP 3000 is written as aparameter and another application is determined based on this parameter.The same configuration as the configuration already described in thefirst exemplary embodiment will be not described. The second exemplaryembodiment is different from the first exemplary embodiment, mainly interms of processing for determining a UI screen to be displayed on adisplay screen of a portable terminal 1000.

A parameter setting unit 3500 according to the present exemplaryembodiment sets information about a device status and a UI statusrepresenting a status of an MFP 3000, as a parameter. Examples of thedevice status include a state where a document is laid on an ADF and astate where one or more secure jobs are received by the MFP 3000. The UIstatus is a status of the UI screen exemplified by a FAX transmissionscreen, a setting screen of the MFP 3000, and a remote scan screen,displayed on a DISPLAY 3090.

An NFC-tag writing unit 3510 according to the present exemplaryembodiment writes the parameter set by the parameter setting unit 3500in an NFC tag 5000. For example, “xxx://MFPapplication/Job=ADF&UI=Scan”is written in a URI scheme REC as information, when a document is laidon the ADF and the remote scan screen is displayed on the DISPLAY 3090.A specific processing procedure will be described in detail below, usingFIGS. 9 to 11.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the MFP3000 according to the present exemplary embodiment. In the presentexemplary embodiment, an area (JobStatus) for storing information abouta job status and an area (UIStatus) for storing information about a UIstatus are each secured as a work area on a RAM 3040.

In step S901, a CPU 3020 acquires Wi-Fi handover information such as anIP address of the MFP 3000 and a SSID of an access point, uponactivation of the MFP 3000.

In step S902, the CPU 3020 writes the acquired Wi-Fi handoverinformation in a Wi-Fi Handover REC.

In step 903, the CPU 3020 acquires the information about the UI status.In step 904, the CPU 3020 acquires the information about the devicestatus.

In step 905, the CPU 3020 writes the acquired information about the UIstatus and the acquired information about the device status asparameters of the URI scheme REC. In other words, these pieces ofinformation are recorded in the NFC tag 5000.

In step 906, the CPU 3020 determines whether there is a change in the UIstatus. Specifically, the CPU 3020 can make this determination bycomparing the last UI status written as a parameter of the URI schemeREC, with the current UI status. If there is a change (Yes in stepS906), then in step 907, the CPU 3020 acquires the information about theUI status at the time of the change, and stores this information in theUIStatus. Otherwise (No in step S906), the processing proceeds to stepS908.

In step 908, the CPU 3020 determines whether there is a change in thedevice status. Specifically, the CPU 3020 can make this determination bycomparing the last device status written as a parameter of the URIscheme REC, with the current device status. If there is a change (Yes instep S908), then in step 909, the CPU 3020 acquires the informationabout the device status at the time of the change, and stores thisinformation in the JobStatus. Otherwise (No in step S908), theprocessing proceeds to step S910.

In step 910, the CPU 3020 determines whether there is a change in atleast one of the UI status and the device status. Specifically, if theinformation is stored in at least one of the UIStatus and the JobStatus,the CPU 3020 determines that there is a change.

When the CPU 3020 determines that there is no change (No in step S910),the processing returns to step S906. If there is a change (Yes in stepS910), then in step 911, the CPU 3020 writes the information stored inat least one of the UIStatus and the JobStatus, as a parameter of theURI scheme REC. After step S911, the CPU 3020 clears the UIStatus andthe JobStatus, and the processing returns to step S906. In this way, thestatus information of the MFP 3000 is updated to the newest information.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of theportable terminal 1000 according to the present exemplary embodiment.FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data table held by aMFP application 1600 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Thisdata table associates the device status, the UI status, and the UIscreen (display UI) to be displayed on a display screen of the portableterminal 1000 via the MFP application 1600, with one another.

What is different from the processing procedure in the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 7 is that this flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10includes a process in step S1002. The description will be given belowfocusing on this process in step S1002.

In step 1002, a controller 1010 determines a display UI based on aparameter acquired in step S1001, by referring to the data table (FIG.11).

For example, when a device status identified based on the parameter andthe data table is “ADF document present” and the UI status is “Remotescan screen”, the controller 1010 can determine that a user is about toperform a scan in the MFP 3000. Therefore, the display UI is determinedto be “Scan”.

Next, in step 1003, the controller 1010 determines an application to bestarted and whether the Wi-Fi handover processing is necessary, byreferring to the data table (FIG. 8), based on the display UI determinedin the process of step S1002. Each process in or after step S1004 issimilar to the process in the first exemplary embodiment.

In this way, in the information-processing system of the presentexemplary embodiment, the information representing the status of the MFP3000 is specified as the status information (the device status and theUI status). Based on this status information, a second application to bestarted after start of a first application is identified.

Therefore, corresponding to processing to be performed by a user in theMFP 3000, a UI screen can be displayed on the display screen of theportable terminal 1000. In other words, an application to be started inthe portable terminal 1000 is identified based on the information aboutthe device status and the UI status.

Accordingly, it is possible to reduce complicated user work, such as anapplication changeover according to processing contents and acommunication-connection changeover due to the application changeover.As a result, a user can quickly perform desired operation, which canimprove usability.

The above-described exemplary embodiments are intended to describe thepresent invention specifically, without limiting the scope of thepresent invention. The present invention includes various forms notdeviating from the gist of the present invention. For example, theabove-described exemplary embodiments may be partially combined asappropriate.

According to the present exemplary embodiments, a necessarycommunication-connection changeover is performed before start of thesecond application. Therefore, it is possible to reduce complicated userwork, such as an application changeover according to processing contentsand a communication-connection changeover due to the applicationchangeover. As a result, a user can quickly perform desired operation,which can improve usability.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™,a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a printing apparatus; and aportable terminal on which a plurality of applications including aprinting application are installed, wherein the printing apparatuscomprises, a display, an NFC tag, and a writing unit configured towrite, in the NFC tag, information corresponding to a UI status of thedisplay, wherein the portable terminal comprises, an acquisition unitconfigured to acquire the information from the NFC tag, and anactivation unit configured to activate any one of the plurality ofapplications, based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit,and wherein, in a case where the UI status of the display is changed,the writing unit writes, in the NFC tag, information corresponding tothe changed UI status.
 2. A system comprising: a printing apparatus; anda portable terminal on which a plurality of applications including aprinting application are installed, wherein the printing apparatuscomprises, a display, an NFC tag, and a writing unit configured towrite, in the NFC tag, information corresponding to a screen that thedisplay is displaying, wherein the portable terminal comprises, anacquisition unit configured to acquire the information from the NFC tag,and an activation unit configured to activate any one of the pluralityof applications, based on the information acquired by the acquisitionunit, and wherein, in a case where the screen that the display unit isdisplaying is changed, the writing unit writes, in the NFC tag,information corresponding to the changed screen.